The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/04/23 at 07:00 EDT

Episode Date: April 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/04/23 at 07:00 EDT

When they predict we'll fall, we rise to the challenge. When they say we're not a country, we stand on guard. This land taught us to be brave and caring, to protect our values, to leave no one behind. Canada is on the line and it's time to vote as though our country depends on it. Because like never before, it does. I'm Jonathan Pedneau, co-leader of the Green Party of Canada. This election, each vote makes a difference. Authorized by the Registeredleader of the Green Party of Canada, this election, each vote, makes a difference.

Authorized by the Registered Agent of the Green Party of Canada. From CBC News, it's the World This Hour. I'm Joe Cummings. We go first to Vatican City, where the body of Pope Francis has now arrived at St. Peter's Basilica, where it will lie in state for the next three days ahead of Saturday's funeral. Megan Williams reports. There are huge crowds now winding their way into St. Peter's Square from both sides of the colonnade.

I just spoke with a young Canadian seminarian who is here from Hamilton. He said Pope Francis was a pope of the streets, somebody who really spoke to people in their own language. He's one of the thousands who are lining up to see the pope's body. His coffin was escorted in a short walk from his Santa Mafta guest house into St. Peter's Basilica up the main stairs. It's now there. A simple wooden coffin, open, red velvet. He did not want an elevated coffin. The cardinals were the first to pay their respects to the Pope, followed by bishops and now thousands of Catholics who have come here specifically today to get a final glimpse of Pope Francis.

Megan Williams, CBC News, The Vatican. It doesn't appear that Mark Carney in his capacity as prime minister will be attending Saturday's funeral, but we are expecting confirmation at some point that Governor General Mary Simon will be in attendance. Now to the federal election and the election task force monitoring foreign interference is reporting that there has been meddling over the course of the campaign. However, it says that meddling doesn't appear to have targeted any one specific party. Janice McGregor has the details. Janice McGregor Well, nothing that in the opinion of the officials threatens the integrity of the election overall but it has detected ongoing attempts to spread

Chinese Communist Party propaganda on social media. Most recently it's briefed the Conservative Party about one of their Toronto candidates, Joe Tay being targeted for his advocacy for democracy in Hong Kong. CSIS however does not interpret this disinformation campaign as proof that China favors a certain party to win the election. It's more about silencing those who speak out against Beijing. Here's Representative Vanessa Lloyd. Keep in mind that it really is party agnostic.

So it is to stifle the criticism of the government. Officials have asked social media platforms to crack down on this, but they can't force them. Janice McGregor, CBC News, Ottawa. Talks on a peace agreement for the war in Ukraine are now underway in London. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has backed away at the last minute, fueling speculation that the U.S. may be considering Russian demands that Ukraine considers unacceptable. Crystal Gamansing has more.

These negotiations must not result in appeasing the aggressor. Yuri Sak, advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic Industries, says Ukraine's negotiators will be at the table. They want peace, but says Ukraine has clear red lines. It would be naive to actually expect Ukraine to somehow miraculously change our position now, for example, with regards to Crimea. There are reports that the U.S. is willing to bend to some of Russia's demands. They are reported to include recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea, as well as at least

four other Ukrainian zones invaded by Russia. In exchange, fighting would be halted. European leaders have expressed concern Russian demands are being prioritized over Ukraine. Axios reports the White House's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, will be there to present the U.S.'s final peace plan. Crystal Gamansing, CBC News, London. A jury has been chosen and the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's World Junior Hockey Team can formally begin today in London, Ontario.

The former players have all pleaded not guilty to in connection to an alleged assault following the team's gold medal gala party in June of 2018. Fourteen jurors, mostly women, have been chosen for the trial that's expected to last eight weeks. And that is The World This Hour.